Cumberland Atelier

The aim of the Cumberland Atelier is to provide consistent, personalized instruction to the individual student in the context of the classical tradition, so that he or she may translate that training fluently into his or her own work. 

We at The Cumberland Atelier believe that creativity is supported by knowledge; that  on a foundation of understanding, artists can spread their wings and fly. Our goal is to provide that foundation of the requisite skills in drawing and painting, both conceptually and practically. We work with talented people of all ages, nurturing and instructing them in the basics such as anatomy, color theory, proportion, perspective and composition. 

The course of an artist’s training is long, if not infinite, and as much as it requires determination on behalf of the student, it also requires attentive guidance on behalf of the teacher. The duty of the teacher within the atelier, therefore, is to find the ever-moving point of contact between the student’s individual needs and the overarching principles of the craft of painting. As such, the atelier must be an intimate environment, where there can exist a clear, sustained dialogue between student and teacher. The Cumberland Atelier will aim to uphold this type of learning environment through offering ongoing classes with a limited student capacity. The courses that are held throughout the year are designed to build on themselves, so as to provide a continuity between their various lessons, and furnish the student with the appropriate skills.